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The only military effort of any importance made by the Japanese army since the occupation of Canton and Hankow last October, was the capture of Nanchang, capital of Kiangsi Province, which for months had been a major Central China air base.

In July 1938, the Japanese concentrated a strong force for operations against Nanchang by occupying Kiukiang, Yangtze River port about eighty miles north of that strategic city. However, due to strong (Chinese resistanCe and unfavorable weather conditions, the advance was stalled at a half-way point and virtually no progress was made last winter. A swift and well prepared drive, protected by air planes and tanks, was launched on 22 March up the west bank of the Kan River and in seven days the offensive banged its way into Nanchang.

A city of 500,000 inhabitants, Nanchang was “a key point on the Chekiang-Hunan railway, China’s last line of supply from the east coast. The loss of this key city will be of no small disadvantage to the Chinese armies. Nanchang is the west terminus of the railroad from Hanchow,-southwest of Shanghai—running through 600 miles of belt country which no Japanese force has penetrated and from which the Chinese government had been drawing food supplies.

Nanchang also gives the Japanese another base for a westerly drive against Changsha, the coveted capital of Hunan Province. This offensive is now in progress and undoubtedly will be vigorously pushed, because with the capture of Changsha, rail communication with the southern province of Kwangsi will be completely disrupted.

Japanes’e occupation of Nanchang will also require rerouting of Chinese guerrilla supply lines and trade routes, since that city has been a focal point for distribution of supplies to the numerous guerrillas which were operating in the triangle Shanghai-Hankow-Nanchang as well as for guerrillas south of the Yangtze that have been obstructing movements of Japanese transports.

Sinae tbe fall of Hankow and Canton last October, the Chinese have placed greater emphasis on guerrilla activities.
It is reported that at the present time nearly one million men, constituting approximately one-third of China’s regular troops, are employed in guerrilla operations. Their mission is not only to cause damage to the enemy, but also to frustrate Japanese attempts to set up puppet regimes and secure Chinese food supplies. Similarly, they seek to create such disturbances so as to make it practically impossible far the Japanese to exploit China’s wealth or agricultural possibilities.

They operate under the “Guerrilla Section” of the National Military Council of which Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek is chairman.
Guerrillas have been active recently in Hunan Province where they penetrated the Japanese defenses of Kaifeng for the second time, but were compelled th withdraw after a Japanese counterattack. They have also been active in the vicinity of Suchow, the junction of the Tientsin-Pukow and Lunghai railways, and have caused traffic interruptions.

According to “Nichi Nichi,” Japan will seek the active assistance of Germany and Italy in an effort to, force other Occidental Powers to stop their assistance to China. The JaPanese cabinet, it is reported, has finally come to the conclusion that Japan’s “overwhelming victories’ are insufficient to end the conflict because of the money and supplies that are being furnished China by outside powers. The main objective of Japan’s foreign policy is, therefore, to prevent foreign assistance from reaching China in really dangerous dimensions.

Up to this time the Japanese war machine has been consistently victorious; the situation at present really is a victorious stalemate in which the victors have been prevented from cashing in on their gains. The most recent events have shown that the Japanese have obviously reached the outward brim of the area in which their mechanical superiority made progress relatively easy. They can no longer use warships in the treacherous rapids of the upper Yangtze, nor can mechanized units advance in the mountains of the West and southwest. After the capture of Changsha, the war will enters a stage in which no new spectacular victories can be expected.

Japan’s goal today is threefold:

1. To defend the occupied area from attacks beyond the outward brim.
2. To exterminate guerrillas.
3. To organize a puppet government capable both of inspiring popular confidence and of initiating an extensive program of rehabilitation.

Cheers. Tigre.

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Early reinforcement from 3rd War area , part of 32nd Army Group?
-- 102nd Division - ?

Notes:
7 Divisions from 32nd Army Group / 3rd War Area were committed during the offensive to recapture Nanchang in April 1939. 16th, 79th, 10th Reserve, and 5th Reseve Divisions are mentioned as being with that Army Group. Also a 102nd Division also came from 3rd War Area early in the campaign but may or may not have been from 32nd Army Group, the text is doesn’t make this clear. The 29th Corps is mentioned in the text along with 26th Divison in the final attack on Nanchang. Addtionally a 25th Corps, (commander Wang Ching-chiu) and a separate 67th Division is listed as being under the 32nd Army Group in another OOB for the Chinese from after the Battle of Wuhan to March 1940. [1]

Was wondering where the 1st Base Force was located. I am guessing Kiukiang.
Also was the Asuka a ship, perhaps a merchantman turned seaplane tender for the
River Plane Unit of 1st Base Force?

Was wondering if the Ishii Tank Unit had other supporting units attached to it? I would guess they might be with the
106th Divison given the sweep south of Nanchang that the 106th is shown doing on the map above.